WEST BANK: In a recent incident that has sparked renewed tension in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have reportedly killed two Palestinians during a raid on a refugee camp in the city of Jericho. Medical sources, cited by the Reuters news agency, confirm that the casualties occurred during the operation.
According to the director of Jericho Hospital, two young men were rushed to the hospital with bullets in their chests. The Palestinian health ministry identified the victims as 16-year-old Qusay al-Walaji and 25-year-old Mohammed Nujoom. They were shot in the chest by Israeli forces during an early morning operation targeting Jericho. This marks the first fatal raid in months on the city.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths are still unclear. While there were reports of armed clashes between residents and Israeli forces, it remains uncertain whether the two deceased individuals were actively involved. The raid itself was relatively brief, lasting for less than an hour, as recounted by local residents.
The incident is a stark reminder of the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank in recent months. The region has witnessed an uptick in hostilities, which can be attributed to a combination of Israeli raids on refugee camps, lethal attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian communities, and street-level assaults by Palestinians against Israelis.
According to figures reported by the French news agency AFP, the fatalities of these two individuals now bring the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces this year to 216. On the other side of the conflict, 28 Israelis, along with one Ukrainian and one Italian, have lost their lives. These statistics are compiled from official sources on both sides.
As of now, the Israeli military has not issued an immediate response to AFP’s request for comment on the recent deaths. The incident raises questions about the ongoing cycle of violence in the region and the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to bring about peace and stability.
